Smart Savings Tip # 7 - Couponing Websites & Apps

The coupon database. Many couponing websites or blogs have a coupon database that you can use to search any coupons (printable or from an insert) that there may be out there for an item. My favorite database to use is from Couponers United website. Here is the direct link: http://www.couponersunited.com/coupon-database/Most of the sites below post the weekly add match-up for a store, which will tell you what will be on sale in the weekly ad, along with coupon locations and links to go along with the products. These are often the night before the sale starts, but some sites (CIA Coupon Spy) post them almost a week in advance, giving you plenty of time to plan your shopping trip.

All of the above sites are free and do not require any registration to view the content.

There are some great apps out there for your smart phone that give you rebates for buying certain products. You will have to snap a photo of your receipt (to confirm your purchase) and when you have enough points or dollars in your account, you can buy things like gift cards (I bought one for Starbucks)!My ‘Go To’ apps are:

Target Cartwheel: An app that will allow you to save a percentage off of your purchase. After downloading this app you can search different categories and it will show products and different percentages off. You will then select the item on which you would like to save and ‘add it to your Cartwheel’. During checkout at the store, you will show your Cartwheel barcode to the cashier, who will then scan it and at that point the savings will be applied.

Walmart Savings Catcher: An app which requires you to scan your Walmart receipt. It takes the items listed on your receipt and cross-references it with items that are currently on sale at competing stores. If any of the items that you purchased are on sale, it will credit your Savings Catcher account with the difference. Once you have a balance of any type on your account, you can print out a gift card to which you can use your balance amount toward any purchase (online or in store).

Ibotta: An app where you browse featured items and watch a quick video clip or take a quiz to earn money. Once you purchase an item featured on the app, you will take a picture of your receipt and once the purchase is verified, your account will be credited. You can purchase gift cards with your account balance.

Checkout 51: An app that has featured items and you are required to upload your receipt to show proof of purchase. Once your account has reached $20 in value, you will be mailed a check in that amount.

Favado: An app where you choose your favorite stores and then type in any item that you wish to purchase. The app will then tell you if and where it is on sale (the store name) and it will show you any coupons that are available for that product and where they can be found (online or in an insert from the newspaper).

I hope these sites and apps are able to help you save money, as they have helped me!